Etrafon Forte News

THURSDAY, Oct. 27, 2016 – A new study raises questions about the effectiveness of medicines commonly prescribed to prevent migraines in children and teens. The 24-week clinical trial involving 328 patients found no significant differences between the drugs amitriptyline (Elavil), topiramate (Topamax) and a placebo sugar pill in reducing the number of days with a migraine or migraine-related disability. Fifty-two percent of those taking amitriptyline and 55 percent of those taking topiramate saw the number of days they had a headache drop by 50 percent or more, while 61 percent of those taking a placebo pill saw the same benefit, the findings showed. The patients taking the prescription drugs also had much higher rates of side effects, such as fatigue, dry mouth, mood changes, and tingling in the hands, arms, legs or feet. "The study was intended to demonstrate which of the commonly ... Read more

MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 – "Off-label" drug use puts patients at risk for serious side effects, especially when scientific evidence is lacking, a new study finds. Physicians prescribe "off-label" when they recommend drugs for uses that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It's a common and legal practice. It's also hard to track, because U.S. doctors aren't required to document the reason for prescribing a treatment. But in what may be the most extensive review of the practice to date, a Canadian-U.S. research team found reason for concern. Patients prescribed off-label drugs without strong scientific evidence were 54 percent more likely to experience an adverse event, such as a drug reaction, drug interaction or allergic response, forcing them to stop taking the drugs, the study found. "We are not saying that off-label is bad," said Dr. Tewodros Eguale, who led ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 21, 2015 – Antipsychotic drug use in American seniors increases with age, a new study cautions. The researchers found that the percentage of people aged 80 to 84 who received a prescription for an antipsychotic drug was twice that of people aged 65 to 69. This increase is occurring despite the known risks of serious side effects such as stroke, kidney damage, and death, they added. "The results of the study suggest a need to focus on new ways to treat the underlying causes of agitation and confusion in the elderly," study author Dr. Mark Olfson, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons and Columbia University in New York City, said in a news release from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). "The public health community needs to give greater attention to targeted environmental and behavioral treatments rather than medications," he added. The ... Read more

FRIDAY, Oct. 15, 2015 – Researchers say they've found a link between brain inflammation and schizophrenia. British investigators used PET scans to assess immune cell activity in the brains of 56 people. Some had schizophrenia, some were at risk for the mental disorder, and others had no symptoms or risk of the disease. The results showed that immune cells are more active in the brains of people with schizophrenia and those at risk for the disease. "Our findings are particularly exciting because it was previously unknown whether these cells become active before or after onset of the disease," lead author Peter Bloomfield, of the Medical Research Council's Clinical Sciences Center at Imperial College London, said in a college news release. "Now we have shown this early involvement, mechanisms of the disease and new medications can hopefully be uncovered," he added. The findings could ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 – A growing number of teens and young adults are being prescribed powerful antipsychotics, even though the medications aren't approved to treat two disorders – ADHD and depression – they are commonly used for, a new study shows. Researchers found that antipsychotic use rose among children aged 13 and older – from 1.1 percent in 2006 to nearly 1.2 percent in 2010. And among young adults – people aged 19 to 24 – antipsychotic use increased from 0.69 percent in 2006 to 0.84 percent in 2010. Of concern to some experts are the conditions for which many of these antipsychotic prescriptions are being written, namely attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves this class of drugs for psychiatric conditions such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or impulsive aggression tied to ... Read more

FRIDAY, Feb. 1 – Use of psychiatric medications is most prevalent in the southern United States and least prevalent in the West, according to a new U.S. study. Although people living in the West are the least likely to use antipsychotics, antidepressants and stimulants, the Yale researchers found that the drugs' use is 40 percent higher in a large section of the South than in other parts of the country. The study authors attributed this discrepancy to variations in local access to health care and marketing efforts within the pharmaceutical industry. "The geographic patterns we identify are striking and map onto the patterns found for a host of other medical conditions and treatments, from cognitive decline to bypass surgery," Marissa King, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management, said in a school news release. "Our work suggests that access to ... Read more